Study: Girls Diagnosed With Autism Later Than Boys

According to CBS News, a study conducted by the Kennedy Krieger Institute has found that while early autism diagnosis and intervention is more likely now due to increased awareness, this is often only for boys. Researchers found that for every four boys diagnosed with the disorder, only one girl was diagnosed. The later diagnosis may be because girls present with different and less severe symptoms. Furthermore, the authors found some autism symptoms like difficulty with social cognition and interpreting social cues more prevalent among girls. This research indicates that girls may start receiving different interventions than boys in order to make them more gender-appropriate due to the differences in how they present with the disorder.